Person Page 1,555

Joshua D. Cobb was born on 3 Mar 1792 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.^4,5
     He was probably one of the two males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Capt. Joshua Cobb, in the 1800 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹³ He was probably the male age 16 to 26 listed in the household of his father in the 1810 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹⁴
     He was a member of the Pawlet Band, organized in 1806, the first in the state. It played for Masonic celebrations, Fourths of July, college commencements, and various other public occasions.¹⁵
     Joshua was a captain of a company of light infantry formed in PawletG.¹⁶

Joining Married Life --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Joshua married Nancy F. Clark, daughter of Col. Ozias Clark and Rachel Fitch, on 6 Dec 1812 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG, with Rev. John Grisues officiating.^6,7
     Joshua and Nancy purchased two parcels on the main road in PawletG on 26 Oct 1815, from Nathan A. Stodard and Clasisa Strong, for $2,000. One parcel was adjoining the site of his father's former blacksmith shop. They took title as tenets in common, which is very unusual for the time. Most land was recorded in the husband's name alone. Perhaps the money for the purchase came from an inheritance she had received?¹⁷ On 18 Feb 1817 they sold the smaller of those parcels and part of another, a total of 36 acres, to her brother Fitch Clark, for $720. A substantial number of additional land transactions involving Joshua and Nancy appear in the deed index, most involving his Edgerton and her Clark relatives, but they have not been examined.¹⁸
     Joshua appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG, with a household consisting of one male aged 10 to 16, one aged 16 to 26, and one aged 26 to 45 (himself), and three females under age 10 (daughters Jane, Rachel, and Alta), one female aged 10 to 16 (unknown), and one aged 26 to 45 (wife Nancy.)¹⁹
     He appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG, with a household consisting of one male under age 5 (son Harry), one aged 5 to 10 (Robert), one aged 20 to 30 (unknown), and one aged 30 to 40 (himself), and one female aged 5 to 10 (daughter Betsey), one aged 10 to 15 (Alta), two aged 15 to 20 (Jane and Rachel), and one aged 30 to 40 (wife Nancy.)²⁰
     Joshua was a farmer.^21,22,23 He served as town Selectman in Pawlet in 1834.²⁴ He was a deacon of the Congregational Church from 1835 until he moved to Wisconsin.²⁵
     Joshua appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG, with a household consisting of two males aged 15 to 20 (son Robert and another), one aged 20 to 30 (unknown), and one aged 40 to 50 (himself), and one female under age 5 (daughter Mary), one aged 15 to 20 (daughter Betsey), one aged 20 to 30 (Rachel), and one aged 40 to 50 (wife Nancy.)²⁶
     His wife died on 17 Feb 1845.²⁷

Moving to Wisconsin --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Joshua moved to Wisconsin in 1846 with his daughters Rachel, Mary, and Rachel's husband, spending their first year at Lake Geneva, G where his son Robert had already settled.^28,29,30 (See map.)
     The next year he moved to Lima, G 90 miles north, with is daughters, Mary and Rachel and her husband, Abraham Sheldon Edgerton.^31,32,33,34 He appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Lima, Rock Co., WisconsinG, enumerated 20 Aug 1850. His daughter Mary was listed as living with him. Listed below, and apparently living close by are his daughter, Rachel Fitch Cobb, and her husband.³⁵
     Joshua appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Lima, Rock Co., WisconsinG, in the household of Abraham Sheldon Edgerton and Rachel Fitch Cobb, his daughter and her husband, as did his younger daughter, Mary.³⁶
     Joshua died on 30 Sep 1866 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG, at age 74, at the home of his daughter Betsey and her husband, while there on a visit.^8,9,10 He was buried Mettowee Valley Cemetery, now known as the Old Pawlet Cemetery, Pawlet, Vermont G, next to his wife.^11,12

Hannah Cobb was born on 30 Jun 1794 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.^4,5,6 She was probably one of the two females under age 10 listed in the household of her father, Capt. Joshua Cobb, in the 1800 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹³ She was probably one of the two females age 10 to 16 listed in the household of her father, Capt. Joshua Cobb, in the 1810 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹⁴ She married Stephen Lowing, son of William Lowing, who was born James William McLaughlin, and Mary Anna Haight.^7,8,9,10
     Hannah and Stephen Lowing moved to Genesee Co., in western New York, by 1830, where her sister Drusilla and her husband were apparently already living.¹⁵ (See map.) She was probably the female age 30 to 40 listed in the household of her husband, Stephen, in the 1830 Federal Census of Gainesville, Genesee Co., New YorkG.¹⁶
     Perhaps after living briefly in Vermont, where their daughter Emily was born, Stephen and Hannah moved to Crawford Co., in north-western Pennsylvania. Her sister Drusilla and her husband, who they had lived near in New York, had apparently already moved there.^17,18 Hannah and Stephen appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Conneaut Twp., Crawford Co., PennsylvaniaG, enumerated 10 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $1,600. Their children Henry, Wheeler, and Emily were listed as living with them.¹⁹
     Hannah and Stephen appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Conneautville, Crawford Co., PennsylvaniaG, enumerated 23 Jun 1860, reporting real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate of $1,254. Listed with them are two farm laborers, Edward Dorchester, age 20, and Sylvester Dorchester, age 21.²⁰
     Hannah and Stephen appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Conneautville, Crawford Co., PennsylvaniaG, enumerated 20 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $3,000. W. J. Miller, a farmer age 30, and Clarce Miller, age 21 and apparently his wife, are listed as living with them.²¹
     Hannah died on 31 Mar 1872 at age 77.¹² She was buried in Conneaut Center Cemetery, Conneautville, Crawford Co., PennsylvaniaG.¹¹

Wealthyann Cobb was born on 31 Jan 1798 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.^5,6,7 She was probably one of the two females under age 10 listed in the household of her father, Capt. Joshua Cobb, in the 1800 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹² She was probably one of the two females age 10 to 16 listed in the household of her father in the 1810 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹³
     Wealthyann married Leman Andrus, son of Asa Andrus and Lucy Bushnell, on 3 Nov 1816 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG, with Rev. John Griswold officiating.^8,9,10
     Wealthyann and Leman moved to Hebron, Washington Co., New YorkG, just to the west of Pawlet, after their marriage.¹⁴ (See map.) Wealthyann was probably the female age 16 to 26 listed in the household of her husband, Leman Andrus, in the 1820 Federal Census of Hebron, Washington Co., New YorkG.¹⁵
     By 1830 Wealthyann and Leman had moved to Almond, Allegany Co. in western New York. After that they seem to have moved regularly around the western part of the state, perhaps prompted by his ministerial calling.^16,17,18,19 She was probably the female age 20 to 30 listed in the household of her husband in the 1830 Federal Census of Almond, Allegany Co., New YorkG.²⁰ She was probably the female age 40 to 50 listed in the household of her husband in the 1840 Federal Census of Pendleton, Niagara Co., New YorkG.²¹
     Wealthyann and Leman appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Pendleton, Niagara Co., New YorkG, enumerated 24 Sep 1850, reporting real estate valued at $6,000. Their daughter Thankful was listed as living with them.²² They appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Wirt, Allegany Co., New YorkG, enumerated 28 Aug 1860, reporting real estate valued at $800 and personal estate of $400.²³
     Wealthyann and Leman moved to Fayette Co., IllinoisG, between 1860 and 1870.²⁴ Wealthyann and Leman appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of La Clede Twp., Fayette Co., IllinoisG, enumerated 16 Jun 1870, reporting real estate valued at $1,700 and personal estate of $150.²⁵ She and Leman appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Farina, Fayette Co., Illinois G, enumerated 3 Jun 1880.²⁶
     Wealthyann died on 11 Aug 1888 in Pendleton, New YorkG, at age 90.¹¹

Simeon E. Cobb was born on 1 Mar 1800 in Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.^5,6,7 He was probably one of the two males under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Capt. Joshua Cobb, in the 1800 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹⁶ He was probably the male age 10 to 16 listed in the household of his father in the 1810 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland Co., VermontG.¹⁷

The Move to Vernon, New York --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Simeon moved to Vernon, in central New York, by 1820, apparently taking his parents with him. It appears they were joining his sisters Abigail and Polly and their husbands who had moved there previously.^18,19 (See map.) Simeon appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Vernon, Oneida Co., New YorkG, with a household consisting of one male one aged 16 to 26 (himself), and one aged over 45, (his father, Capt. Joshua Cobb), one female aged 16 to 26 (perhaps his sister Hannah or Claracy?), and one aged over 45 (his mother, Hannah Edgerton.)²⁰
     Simeon married Betsey Henryford, daughter of Sextus Henryford, about 1827.^8,9,10
     Simeon appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Lenox, Madison Co., New YorkG, with a household consisting of one male aged 5 to 10 (son Henry) and one age 40 to 50 (Simeon), one female age 5 to 10, one aged 30 to 40 (wife Betsey), and one age 70 to 80 (his mother, Hannah.)²¹

The West Beckons --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

      On 1 Jun 1848 Simeon and Abraham Sheldon Edgerton, his cousin, were granted a patent for 40 acres of land in Rock Co., WisconsinG, under the Cash Entry Act of April 24,1820. While the patent states that the grantees were "Simeon E. Cobb and Abram S. Edgerton of Walworth County Wisconsin," it appears that Simeon was still living in New York.²²
     Simeon and Betsey appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Lenox, Madison Co., New YorkG, enumerated 2 Aug 1850, reporting real estate valued at $8,300. Their children Henry, Ellen, and Elizabeth were listed as living with them, as was Jacob Wolf, age 30, a laborer. They were apparently living quite near his sister Polly and her family, as they appear only three households away on the census record.²
     Simeon and Betsey moved their family to Wisconsin in 1853. They located at Whitewater, Walworth Co. in the southeast corner of the state, a few miles from where his brother Joshua and his daughter and her husband had located in Rock Co.^23,24,25
     In 1857 Simeon began to acquire a substantial acreage of land, principally in Juneau Co.G in the central part of the state. He purchased 80 acres in Juneau Co.G under the Cash Entry Act of 1820 on 1 Apr 1857. He also acquired the rights of five soldiers to bounty lands granted to them under the Scrip Warrant Act of 1855, totaling an additional 560 acres, in 1857 and 1859. One of those conflicted with a prior grant, and a replacement parcel in Vernon Co. was granted in its place in 1861.^26,27 He reported his occupation as a farmer, but it seems unlikely that he was farming the land he acquired in central Wisconsin while living in Whitewater.^2,3
     Simeon and Betsey appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Whitewater, Walworth Co., WisconsinG, enumerated 25 Aug 1860, reporting real estate valued at $10,000 and personal estate of $8,000. Their children Henry, Ellen, and Elizabeth were listed as living with them.³

A Wagon Train Trip Through Indian Country --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Simeon joined a wagon train that departed WhitewaterG for Montana on 18 Apr 1866. It seems to have been quite an impressive affair, with 30 wagons, "very large and strong, capable of carrying safely from fifty to sixty hundred pounds of freight." The travelers were men "among the very best class of our younger people, mainly, there being two or three men in middle life, who go solely for their health. At age 60, Simeon was evidently among this latter group.²⁸ The train traveled across Wisconsin and Iowa, reaching Nebraska City, on the eastern edge of Nebraska Territory, on 30 May 1866. A smaller party, including Simeon, broke off from the main train there, leaving for "Mormondom" on 9 Jun with four wagons.²⁹ (See map.)
     Simeon's party arrived at Fort Kearny, Nebraska TerritoryG, in mid June, where, because of the danger of Indian attack, they were required to wait a day until a train of 30 wagons could be assembled. They arrived in Julesberg, Colorado on 28 Jun 1866, where they learned it was unsafe to take the new cut off by Ft. Reno, so decided to take the Bitter Creek route to remain south and west of the disputed territory.³⁰ The party continued to Fort Laramie, and then to Fort CasperG, both in present-day Wyoming. Along the route they encountered a particularly severe rainstorm, which one night flooded the tent occupied by "Uncle Simeon Cobb" and three other men with several inches of water. At Fort CasperG they were again detained by the army until a train of sufficient size was assembled, leaving on 20 Jul 1866.³¹
     The party continued to Fort Bridger, finally arriving in Salt Lake CityG on 13 Aug 1866, after a journey of a few days short of four months. Simeon had become quite ill before they arrived. It was reported that his "digestion got down very weak about ten days before we got in, and he got very weak and nervous. He is under medical attendance and growing better."³²
     Simeon's objective for the trip may have been to reach California. On 4 Sep 1866 he was reported as "improving in health very rapidly, and will undoubtedly be ready to travel to California soon. But shortly thereafter he was reported as well, and intending to start for home in about ten days.³³ But he died unexpectedly on 12 Oct 1866.³⁴
     Simeon died on 12 Oct 1866 in Salt Lake City, UtahG, at age 66.^11,12 He was buried on 18 Oct 1866 in Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, UtahG, in a pauper's grave.^13,14,15
     His name is inscribed with his wife's on the monument in the family plot in Hillside Cemetery, Whitewater, WisconsinG, and a prominent member of the town recorded in his journal is intention to go out west and bring "Uncle Simeon" back. But there seems to be no record in the Salt Lake City Cemetery records of his remains being removed, and there is no "Father" stone matching her "Mother" stone in Whitewater, so it appears his remains are still in Salt Lake City.^35,36